in the dirt since history began

Holiday Gift Ideas: Girls' Education

November 24, 2006

Tradition, familial expectations and a year upon year, devilishly effective marketing campaign pretty much ensure that most of the people reading this will be expected and compelled to carefully select, purchase and distribute a good many gifts in the coming weeks. (Of course, to be fair you’ll receive some as well.)

So, amid the tumult of The Biggest Shopping Day of the Year™— this day that changes people; I mean it gets like Lord of the Flies out there —I ask you: why deal with all of that shit? Why not give (and request) charitable donations for the holidays?

Why not make charitable donations to organizations that work toward educating girls in developing countries?

Educating girls is an essential part of winning the fight against global poverty. On average, an educated girl boosts the income of her family and her community; has fewer, more healthy children; and is less likely to contract HIV/AIDS.

The benefits of girls’ education extend beyond the local community. Studies show that increasing the number of educated girls in a country fosters economic growth, promotes political stability and reduces health care costs. [NetAid: Educating Girls]

A quick, somewhat cursory internet search turned up the following groups that are engaged in this work. Suggestions for other organizations that should be included are welcome and will be added to the list. Pressing ‘CN’ will take you to the Charity Navigator report for the organization. Likewise, pressing ‘G.o’ will take you to the Give.org report.

missus charley, m.d. and self do something along these general lines. that is to say, we give money every year (not a LOT of money, but something) to a religiously-affiliated middle school for disadvantaged inner city youth, which we have a connection with as a consequence of having attended the sponsoring parish in the city where we formerly resided. as it happens, the pupils are boys. many of them are heterosexuals, however, and so will probably interact with girls in their future lives, and i expect that in the long run their education will benefit women too.

"We have no words to waste on you. When you reach out your vaunted strong hands for our palaces and purpled ease, we will show you what strength is. In roar of shell and shrapnel and in whine of machine-guns will our answer be couched. We will grind you revolutionists down under our heel, and we shall walk upon your faces. The world is ours, we are its lords, and ours it shall remain. As for the host of labor, it has been in the dirt since history began, and I read history aright. And in the dirt it shall remain so long as I and mine and those that come after us have the power. There is the word. It is the king of words—Power. Not God, not Mammon, but Power. Pour it over your tongue till it tingles with it. Power."